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The
George Thorn
(1806 – 1876) often called the “father of Ipswich” was
sent to Moreton Bay and put in charge of the Limestone Hill penal
settlement. When the settlement closed he stayed on and
purchased the Queen’s Arms Hotel, and then sold the hotel in 1847
to set up a store. He purchased many Ipswich town lots when they
first went up for sale and his landholdings extended to Toowoomba,
Moggill and Cleveland. Thorn was elected one of the three
members for West Moreton in 1860-63 in the Queensland Parliament
and then became an alderman for Ipswich from 1862-65. He is
credited for establishing the Anglican Church, School of Arts,
Hospital, Grammar School, Botanic Gardens, North Australian Club,
racing club and the Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Society.
Known for his “larky humour”, thoroughness and integrity, Thorn
died on 28 April 1876 and was survived by nine children. Son,
George Henry (1840 – 1905) went on to become Postmaster-
General, Secretary of Public Works and Mines and served as
Premier of Queensland from 5 June 1876 until 8 March 1877.
Joseph Fleming
(1811-1891) made his mark in the early days of
Ipswich’s settlement. His first foray into setting up a mill rapidly
grew into The Bremer Mills Estate which was located at Bundamba.
At the height of its success it boasted a steam flourmill, a steam
sawmill, a melting down works, a seven room house with detached
kitchen, service quarters and store and stabling for 20 horses, a
superintendent’s house, cottages for 300 workers and their families,
a church and school house, a fruit and flower garden, wharves and
tramways. In December 1859, Joseph Fleming was elected to the first
Queensland Parliament as the member for West Moreton. A lawsuit
involving William Tooth, flood damage and falling wheat prices saw
the beginning of a fall from grace for Joseph Fleming. Although he
tried to start again on a property at Warrego in August 1861, he was
unable to pay the licence fees and in November 1862, Joseph
Fleming was declared bankrupt. He had to resign his seat in the
assembly and his commission as a Justice of the Peace.
John Panton
(1815 - 1866) is considered one of the founding fathers
of Ipswich. He was born in Scotland and came to Australia as a
young man with his family. His father George held the position of
Post Master General of New South Wales for some years. A trip
to the Moreton Bay region led John Panton to move his successful
business interests to Ipswich and in 1851, he opened the firm
“Panton and Co.” at premises in Brisbane Street. John Panton was
a highly respected member of the community and served as an
honorary magistrate. He is also considered a pioneer of the cotton
industry in the region and was a strong advocate for the separation
of Queensland. In 1858 Panton built his iconic Milford Street home
“Claremont”, but in 1863 financial difficulties forced Panton to sell his
home to George Thorn. He was appointed to the Queensland
Legislative Assembly in 1866 but poor health meant that he didn’t
regularly attend Parliament and he died later that year. “Claremont”
has endured and remains a good example of single storey Colonial
Georgian architecture.
Benjamin Cribb
(1807 – 1874) established London Stores in Bell
Street in 1849, which was the forerunner of the firm Cribb and
Foote. Benjamin also represented West Moreton between 1861-67
in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, and then Ipswich from
1870-73. Interestingly, although he served several terms as an
alderman, Benjamin Cribb had initially opposed Ipswich’s
incorporation as a municipality. When his first wife died, Cribb
married the sister of John Clarke Foote who would later become his
business partner and together they created the iconic store Cribb
and Foote. In order to expand the business to the growing German
immigrant population, Jacob Born was employed as the firm’s agent
in 1863. Benjamin Cribb died on 11 March 1874 and was survived by
ten children from his two marriages. Sons Thomas Bridson and
James Clarke both sat in parliament, the former as Treasurer from
1901-03. “Gooloowan” was the Cribb family home and has become
an icon in its own right. It still graces Denmark Hill today.
Entrepreneurs
22 Ipswich 150: 1860 – 2010
Proud Past - Exciting Future
The opening of Australia to foreign settlement in the early years of the nation was the perfect
environment for ambitious business and farming entrepreneurs. Ipswich had its share of hard working
business icons who were key players in the building of the city.
Throughout Ipswich’s history, there have been many men and women who have contributed to the
growth, development and direction of what is now a prosperous and vibrant city. To name them all
would require volumes dedicated to their work and vision. This chapter includes just a few of the
entrepreneurs and contributors who have given much to Ipswich and the region over the past 150 years.